Towel rack having towel clamping means



May 1 1958 ca. A. SCHMUC'K TOWEL RACK HAVING TOWEL CLAMPING MEANS Filed May 24. 1954 10 r as\ r- L J v Fig.1

INVENTOR. GAIL A. SCHMUCK Mama:

nited States 2,834,477 TOWEL RACKHAVING TOWEL CLAMPING' MEANS The present invention relates generally to bathroom fixtures and more particularly to a towel rack having towel clamping means.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a towel rack having a hinged rail which may be locked in place to clamp a towel securely and prevent its inadvertent removal, the device being particularly useful in preventing towels-from being pulled from the towelrack by smaller children, but being universally helpful in maintaining the towels properly and neatly positioned in the holder.

Another object of this invention is to providea towel rack in which ahinged locking rail is enclosed within a fixed outer rail -to prevent accidental unlocking.

Another object of this invention is to provide a towel rack having integral stop means and a simple mechanical arrangement of elementsto ensure positive locking.

Another very important object is to provide a towel rack which may be used in the conventional manner without any locking of the towel. The instant towel rack may, therefore, be considered as being of dual purpose type.

Another object of this invention is to provide a towel rack which is adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can be according to the dictates of availability and price considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a towel rack which is inexpensive and practicable to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a towel rack of the aforementioned character which is simple, safe and cnvenient to use, and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing, and in which: a

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the towel rack.

Fi g. 2 is a front elevation view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and showing the device mounted On a wall or similar support.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a towel clamped in the rack.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the towel rack in open position showing the stop means incorporated therein.

Referring now to the drawing in vdetail, the towel rack comprises a fixed outer rail 10 and a hinged inner atent fii s 2,834,477 Patented May 13, 1958 rail 12. The fixed rail 10 includes a front bar 14 recessed at each end in a support arm 16 which extends forwardly from the upper edge of a depending back plate 18. These back plates 18 are provided with screw apertures 20 to facilitate attachment of the device to a wall 22, or other suitable support, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The hinged rail 12 comprises a locking bar 24 having at each end a rearwardly extending hinge arm 26, said locking bar being coextensive with and closely spaced from the front bar 14. The hinge arms 26 are provided with elongated slots 28 which receive hinge pins 3t) projectiug inwardly from the support arms 16, said hinge pins being cast integrally with said support arms or embedded therein as shown. The back plates 18 extend inwardly from the support arms 16 and constitute back stops 32 for the flat end surfaces 34 of the hinge arms 26 when the towel rack is in locked position. The hinged rail 12 is thus made pivotal on the hinge pins 30 and is shiftable toa limited degree in a fore and aft direction due tothe slots 28.

The downward pivotal movement of the hinged rail 12 is limited by stop lugs 36 projecting rearwardly from the front bar 14 adjacent the support arms 16. The ends of the locking bar 24 have recesses 38 shapedto fit the stop lugs 36 so that the hinged rail 12 is held flush with the fixed rail 10 when the former is in the closed or locked position.

To secure a towel 4t) firmly in the rack, the towel is draped over the locking bar 24 while in the raised position, as shown dotted in Fig. 3. The hinged rail 12 is then lowered to the position shown in Fig. 4, so that the stop lugs 36 engage the recesses 38 and the hinged rail is fully depressed. The slots 28 allow the hinged rail 12 to slide rearwardly so that the flat end surfaces 34 abut tightly on the back stops 32 to lock the rail against inadvertent pivotal movement. It should be noted that the hinge pins 30 are merely guiding means for the hinged rail 12, the locking pressure being against the back stops 32 and not on said pins. The free gap or clearance between the front bar 14 and the locking bar 24 being small, the towel 40 is compressed therebetween so causing the hinged rail 12 to be held tightly against the back stops 32. To reinforce the locking action, the resiliency of the locking bar 24 is also utilized, the aforementioned free gap or clearance being such that slight bending of the bar is necessary to accommodate the thickness of removed by a downward or lateral pull on either end i of the towel. This is particularly advantageous when the towel is to be used by children, thus preventing soiling of the towel from falling to the floor. The towel is removed by pulling upwardly on the end thereof sus- V pended within the hinged rail 12, or by raising said hinged rail forcibly. As soon as the pressure holding the hinged rail 12 against the back stops 32 is released, the rail can slide forward and be raised easily to facilitate removal of the towel.

Finally, it is noteworthy that the hinged rail need not be used unless desired. The towel may be draped over both rails if no locking of the towel is necessary. In this event, the inner rail-functions simply as reinforcement and, of course, makes the rack more substantial and attractive. Since the hinged rail is locked when in depressed position the necessary rigidity is afforded. This dual purpose characteristic of the invention is considere an important feature. The towel rack may be fabricated from various materials such as aluminum or alloys thereof, or from steel,

the structure being suitably finished to provide an attractive appearance.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recited objects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim: v

1. A towel rack comprising a fixed rail and a movable rail coextensive therewith, support arms extending from the ends of said fixed rail in parallel relation, hinge arms extending from the ends of said movable rail parallel to said support arms, hinge pins interconnecting said support arms and said hinge arms, said rails having elongated confronting portions for engaging a towel therebetween, stop means distinct from said confronting portions on said movable rail positioned to abut portions of said fixed rail when the movable rail is registered with the fixed rail, said stop means comprising an instrumentality whereby said movable rail is limited in its downward pivotal displacement, the axes of said rails and hinge pins being substantially coplanar when said rails are registered, and mounting means on said support arms for attachment to a support, said hinge arms and said mounting means having abutting flat surfaces engaged when said movable rail is registered with said fixed rail with a towel compressed therebetween, said abutting flat surfaces comprising means to lock said movable rail against inadvertent displacement.

2. A towel rack comprising a fixed rail and a movable rail coextensive therewith, support arms extending from the ends of said fixed rail to one side thereof, hinge arms shorter than said support arms and extending from the ends of said movable rail parallel to said support arms and disposed therebetween, whereby said movable rail in one position thereof is adjacent said one side of the fixed rail and parallel thereto, hinge pins interconnecting said support arms and said hinge arms, said movable rail having slots engaged with said pins for limited sliding movement on said hinge pins, back plates depending from said support arms and including flat back stop portions adjacent the support arms, fiat end surfaces on said hinge arms for firmly abutting said flat back stop portions when said movable rail is shifted to the limit of said sliding movement .by a towel clamped between the rails, whereby said movable rail is locked against inadvertent pivotal displacement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,228,636 Bangs June 5, 1917 1,464,311 Eriksen Aug. 7, 1923 1,480,065 Har-ttet a1 Jan. 8, 1924 1,667,657 Dobert Apr. 24, 1928 1,997,490 Hoar Apr. 9, 1935 2,490,322 Pikor Dec. 6, 1949 2,672,240 Conley Mar. 16, 1954 

